A union operates like a business with one major source of revenue: its members. Unions charge their members for representation in the form of:
Dues
Initiation fees
Special assessments
Fines
Reinstatement fees
Mandatory dues or fees are a common feature of a UAW contract. The union is free to spend members’ dues however it wants. If the union negotiated mandatory dues or fees in a contract, all represented JPLers would be required to pay dues and fees, even if they did not vote for (or voted against) the union during the election.
Here are some facts about fees and union dues, according to the UAW constitution and union organizers:
FACT: “Each new member will pay an initiation fee, no part of which shall be considered as a Local Union fine, of not less than ten dollars ($10.00) and not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for membership in a Local Union of the International Union.” Article 16, Section 1 (a)
FACT: “… the minimum monthly dues will be an amount equivalent to: (i) 2.5 hours of straight time pay for members working full time paid on an hourly basis…” Article 16, Section 2 (a)
ORGANIZERS: JPL union organizers have said dues will be 1.44 percent of gross monthly pay.
Dues Calculator
Enter your monthly income below to estimate how much your monthly union dues could be and what you could pay the union over the life of a three-year contract.
Use the investment calculator to see how much money you could make if you invested this money instead of paying union dues.